I’m still skeptical about the overall use of QR codes, but these suggestions might be handy for those looking to incorporate them for educational programs (it says classroom, but I imagine some uses would apply to library programs too).

(Source: twitter.com)

QR codes for marketing are an interesting concept in search of a more efficient solution. They have been adopted by the advertising industry, but were not created for it. Developed by a division of Toyota, they were initially used to track parts in vehicle manufacturing. It is not the QR codes fault that the vast number of agencies are as creative as dryer lint; it is no wonder, in an advertising age of increasing focus on direct response metrics, that creativity has been sucked out of agencies.

Creative usage of a technical solution increases its viral potential and positive brand association. If you are going to use a QR code, then be creative with it.  I get paid to come up with digitally strategic sound ideas for agencies and clients, so I am going to provide you with five ideas for better uses of QR codes. I believe that if you tell someone their ideas suck it really does not help them “unsuck,” and that is sadly too often the feedback many Creatives get. However, if you show them the types of ideas that are possible, then you can help catalyze their own ideation to be more successful. These are but a few.

(Source: tametheweb.com)

This is an interesting idea. I’ll be curious how many people actually use the codes, considering they’re automatically excluding people lacking smartphones and/or code-reading software + internet connection. (The comments present at the time of writing are almost entirely negative.)

(Source: twitter.com)

It’s a little premature to say goodbye to something just because Google is no longer supporting it in their Places service.  Especially since there are lots of options to create QR codes for various purposes, including linking back to a business’ Google Places page.

That said, I’ve never been very enthused about QR codes in the first place.  Perhaps that’s because I don’t own a smartphone, so I can’t decode them (there are ways to do it on a PC, too, but it seems like a lot of work just to end up at some marketing site or whatever). Perhaps it’s because I keep seeing them in strange places -on a bill, on ice cream containers- and I don’t get the point (using them in museums for more information, for instancenow that I can understand).  Or perhaps I’m just being a curmudgeon. :)